by-laws for vsu criminal justice honor's society
Alpha Phi Sigma
Article I: Name
Alpha Phi Sigma is the VSU Criminal Justice Honor Society, hereafter referred to as the Society.
Article II: Goals
The goals of the organization are to honor academic excellence, to promote community service, to enhance educational leadership, and to encourage unity within the field of criminal justice.
Article III: Membership Criteria
Membership in the Society is open to qualified candidates without regard to age, color, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, and/or disability. Those students who have accumulated 50 semester hours of coursework, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and 12 semester hours of Criminal Justice credits with a GPA of 3.2 or above, are invited to apply for membership. There is a one-time initiation fee of $45.00. This money supports the administrative costs of the organization and also funds scholarships and awards for Honor’s students, and supports service project developed by the Society.
Probationary Status- One can come to the meetings and participate in community service activities if students are at 45 accumulated semester hours of coursework, with a GPA of at least 2.95, and the same Criminal Justice requirements as a member. The probationary period is for one semester unless there is improvement and they meet the membership criteria within a year (30 semester hours). A probationary member is unable to vote, wear honor society regalia, or be considered an active member.
Senior Membership - Students who do not become eligible for Alpha Phi Sigma membership until the 2nd semester of their senior year will be allowed to pay a reduced one-time initiation fee of $25.00. If students were eligible to join Alpha Phi Sigma prior to the 2nd semester of their senior year, but failed to do so, they will be required to pay the $45.00 one-time initiation fee to become an Alpha Sigma member.
Article IV: Officers
The positions of the officers of the Society shall be that of President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The President shall serve as the Editor of the Society’s newsletter, as long as there are adequate funds to support the printing costs, there will be at least one edition of the newsletter published each Fall and Spring semester. The President will preside over all Society meetings. The President will actively support all Society projects. The Vice-President will preside over any meetings that the President cannot attend. The Vice-President will actively support all Society projects. The Secretary will preside over any meeting that the President and Vice-President cannot attend, he or she will record and publish the minutes of all Society meetings. Publication of the minutes will be through the Society’s distribution list of current members. The President, or other presiding officer may delegate the task or recording and publishing the minutes if the Secretary is unable to attend a Society meeting.
The Treasurer will keep account of all funds received and disbursed and will make a financial report to the Society at all meetings. The position of the Treasurer may be combined with that of the Secretary only if the Secretary and Society members agree.
Officers will be elected once per year in the Fall semester. If an officer graduates prior to the termination of his or her elected term of office, they will be replaced by a majority vote of the membership. Only members in good standing of the organization may cast a vote.
Article V: Committees
There will be no separate committees within the Society. All current members are expected to participate in the activities of the Society. Major decisions that will affect the membership as a whole will be made by a majority vote of current members.
Article VI: Faculty Advisor
The faculty advisor shall be selected by the students with a 2/3 vote, and shall serve as needed. Students will have the opportunity to vote on a faculty advisor once per academic year. Advisors must be a part of the regular VSU faculty and must be willing to serve for a minimum of one academic year.
Advisors may serve multiple terms but only with a vote of confidence by 2/3 of the student members every Fall semester.
Article VII: Student Responsibilities
All members must remain in good standing with VSU during their academic careers, and maintain a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.2 in their Criminal Justice coursework. Students who fall below either of these academic standards will be placed on Probation for one academic semester and will not have voting privileges during that time. Students who do not achieve the minimum standards after two semesters will be expelled from the Society.
Article VII: Post-Graduation Memberships
VSU students who graduate in good standing of the Society are encouraged to maintain their membership and to participate in Society activities to the extent that their professional lives will allow. However, only VSU students may hold the position of a Society Officer.
Article VIII: Dissolution
The Society may be dissolved by 2/3 vote of current members. Upon dissolution any remaining funds will be forwarded to the VSU Criminal Justice Scholarship Fund.